Sound recording adapter



y 1954 w. c. FOSTER SOUND RECORDING ADAPTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec.28, 1950 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY y 1954 W, c. FOSTER 2,683,605

SOUND RECORDING ADAPTER F iled Dec. 28, 1950 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENTOR ATTORNEY M was Patented July 13, 1954 UNITED ATENT OFFICEApplication December 28, 1950, Serial No. 203,046

10 Claims.

Uninterrupted recording of sound has been achieved commercially withmany types of appa ratus, but each of them has until now requiredmachines especially designed for the purpose as distinguished fromstandard sound recording machines used in multiples by means of anadaptor.

In accordance with the present invention, the need for such specialmachines has been obviated by an adaptor which can be positioned withrespect to two or more machines of standard types so that when one ofthem which is recording approaches a point at which its record willbecome completely used, a second of the machines will be placed inoperation to continue the recording, and if desired, an overlappingcondition can be produced so that a portion of the intelligence will berecorded on each of the records as is common in the art.

The adaptor contemplated by the present invention intended forcombination with a plurality of independent sound recording machineseach of which has means for initiating a recording operation and each ofwhich has a relatively movable recording head member and a recordsupport member. The adaptor comprises a frame, positioning means carriedby the frame engageable with the machines for mutually locat ing theadaptor and machines, actuating elements with a stylus member and recordcarriage memher in each case, the adaptor providing actuating armspivotally carried by its frame for interposition in the paths ofmovement of the members, a selecting switch for sequentially energizingthe starting switches of the machines, and a mechanical movementinterconnecting the actuating elements and selecting switch.

Each of the sound recording machines has record driving means and inputterminals, and

. selecting means carried by the frame for sequentially activating thedriving means is provided together with conductors carried by the framefor connection with the input terminals. The recording head member andrecord support member of each machine are relatively movable through apredetermined path and the actuating elements movably carried by theframe are interposed in the terminal portions of these paths of movementto impart movement to an operating means for operation of the selectingswitch. Inasmuch as a practical embodiment of this invention wouldinvolve two sound recording machines, the selecting switch carried bythe adaptor would in that case,.have two poles for alternatelyactivating the recording initiating means of the two machines. Thestrokes of the actuating elements are preferably rendered adjustable sothat a recording operation can be shifted from one movably carried bythe frame for interposition in machine to another for any desireddeparture of the paths of movement of the members, selecting therelatively movable members of either mameans carried by the frame forsequentially chine.

activating the recording initiating means of the The adaptor likewiseserves the function of machines, and operating means interconnectinglamping two or more machines together p ysithe actuating elements andselecting means. The a ly 50 that they can be handled as a unit.machines in conjunction with which the inven- A more completeunderstanding of the invention has been illustrated contemplate amovable tion Will follow from a detailed description of the recordcarriage, and the adaptor preferably utiaccompanying drawings wh in:

lizes actuating elements which are pivotally car- Fig. 1 is aperspective view depicting the ried by the adaptor frame forinterposition in the adapt 0f the Present i v t on 0mbined with paths ofmovement of such record carriage or a p of St d d Sound recordingmachines; support members. The sound recording ma- Fig 2 is an plodedperspective view of the chines illustrated are provided with electricaladap means for initiating a recording operation, and 3 is a r elevationof the ptor with its the adaptor provides electrical switching meansTeal COVeI removed; d

carried by its frame for sequentially activating Fig. 4 is a schematiccircuit diagram depicting the recording initiating means of themachines, e m r i Which the adaptor is electrically there beingconductors carried by the frame for connected with a pair of machines oft e t p connecting the switching means and recording Shown in F 1.

initiating means. E h of the ne 10. d picted in Fig. 1,

The sound recording machines described herein have record driving meanswhich are sequentially activated by the selecting means carried by theadaptor frame. These sound recording machines likewise have startingswitches together is an independent sound recording and reproducingmachine commercially available from The Gray Manufacturing Company,Hartford 1, Connecticut, sold under the trade-mark Audograph. Each ofthe machines compris s a lower frame member I2 and an upper frame memberI4 provided with suitable hinges and latching means, not shown, so thatthe upper frame member can be elevated for access to the working partshoused within the two frame members. Each of the upper frame membersprovides a table It containing an elongated slot I8 through which asplined spindle 29 projects to receive the complementary opening of adisc record 22. The spindle is rotatably mounted in a carriage whichtraverses the slot I8 to advance the record relative to its stylus whichis located beneath the cover 24. Each of the tables I6 is grooved toreceive a pair of plush strips 25 arranged substantially parallel to thelength of the slot I8 and serving to support the record 22 out ofcontact with the table IS. A control lever 28, shown in its neutralposition in the case of each machine in Fig. 1, can be shifted to theleft to move a recording stylus beneath the cover 24 into con tact withthe record 22, and movement of the lever 28 to the right will move areproducing stylus beneath the cover 24 into contact with the record 22.In either of its operative positions, marked Record and Listen on themachines, the control lever 28 moves a driving roller into operativeengagement with the record to eifect its rotation. As the record rotatesunder whichever stylus is efiective at the moment, the spindle 2i}imparts rectilinear movement to the record carriage towards the left asviewed in Fig. 17 A jewel 33 carried by the housing cover 24- above thecontrol lever 28 indicates the operating condition of the apparatus. Theposition of the carriage and its spindle 2i; can be manually adjusted byturning the knob 32 provided at the right end of each upper frame member!4. A knob 34 actuates a combined switch and reproduction volumecontrol, an indicator lamp 35 provides a visual indication of the soundinput to the amplifier, and a jack 38 permits the ready connection ofexternal phones or a speaker. A transparent guide 48 serves as aretainer for an index strip, not shown, such a strip being driven bymeans of a sprocket 42 whose movements are a function of those of therecord carriage. At the front of each of these guides, there are threekeys including a release key 44 which serves to retract the sprocket 42for insertion and removal of an index strip, an end key 46 for actuatinga punch which codes the index strip, and a correction key 48 whichactuates another punch for differently coding the index strip.

The adaptor 56 includes a frame 52 and a clamping member which areassembled by inserting the screw 55 carried by the clamping memberthrough an opening 58 formed through the frame and applying a nut 60 tomaintain the parts in unitary relationship. The forward surface of theframe 52 as depicted in Fig. 2 engages the rear surfaces of the twosound recording machines I6, a spacing member 62 carried by the upperportion of this surface spacing the rear portions of the two machines.The clamping member is provided with arcuate portions 64 whichcomplement correspondingly curved portions of the machines to effect aclamping action. The clamping member has an upper wall 66 which assumesa horizontal position in its assembled relationship, and an integralfront wall 63 which is vertically arranged when assembled with themachines. This front wall is provided with a handle which can be used totransport the entire assembly, including the two machines, as a unit.

As illustrated in Fig. l, a microphone I2 carrying a switch arm I4 isconnected through a cable 76 and plug I8 with a receptacle 86, depictedin Fig. 3. Two conductors within the cable I6 carrying the microphonecurrent are represented in Fig. 4 as conductors 82 and 84. Theseconductors are connected respectively with conductors 86 and 88 at thereceptacle 86, and with terminals 90 and 92 of a plug 64 andcorresponding terminals 96 and 98 of a plug I80. The plug 94 is receivedin the receptacle of the left hand machine It, connecting its terminalsas and 92 with the input tube I64 as diagrammatically depicted in Fig.4. In a similar way, the plug IilIJ is received in a correspondingreceptacle of the right hand machine of Fig. 1, so that the terminals 96and 98 will be applied to the elements of the amplifier input tube I06of this right hand machine.

The cable It also includes conductors extending from the terminals ofthe microphone switch I08, these conductors, H0 and H2 being connectedto the terminals III! and H6 respectively, of the receptacle 8%. Aconductor H8 extending from the terminal H4 is connected with a terminalI2!) of the plug 94 and a corresponding terminal I22 of the plug I65.The terminal I20 is connected through a lead I2 3 with one end of thewinding of a solenoid I26, the other end being connected through a leadI28 with a ter minal I36 of the plug 94, this terminal being connectedthrough a lead I32 with one of the poles I34 of a selecting switch I36.The terminal I22 of the plug I69 is connected through a lead I38 withone end of the winding of a solenoid I46 whose other end is connected bymeans of a lead I42 with a terminal I44 of the plug I06. This terminalI44 is connected through a lead I46 with the other pole I48 of theselecting switch I36. A source of current has been depicted as atransformer I50 introduced into the conductor IIB for energizing thesolenoids I26 and I40 in the order of their selection by the switch I36.Obviously, the current supply can be direct or rectified and introducedat any appropriate portion of the circuit.

With the switch I36 in the position depicted in Fig. 4 of the drawings,and the microphone switch I4 closed, the solenoid I40 will be energizedand its armature I52 will move downwardly against the force of theretracting spring I54 to move a roller I56 into contact with the record22 to drive the same and through it, its carriage as already described.When the switch I36 assumes its other position, wherein the arm I58 isin contact with the pole I34, the solenoid I26 will be energized toattract its armature I60 downwardly against the force of the retractingspring I62 to engage the roller I64 with the record 22 to rotate it andthrough it effect feeding movement of its carriage.

As the carriage of the operating machine moves towards the left, asviewed in Fig. 1, the spindle 20 will travel to the left and as itapproaches the end of its travel, will engage an actuating element I66imposed in its path, tending to move the actuating element clockwise asviewed in Fig. 1, thereby rotating its yoke I68 in which it is mountedby means of a pivot I10, and correspondingly rotate the vertical shaftI12 to which the yoke is secured by means of a set screw I14. The shaftI12 is jcurnalled in an opening formed in the top wall of the framemember and in a bearing I16 secured to the lower wall of the framemember. Each of the shafts I12 has a collar I I8 suitably securedthereto, each of the collars carrying an arm I80 in which a slot isformed for the reception of a pin I82 carried by a horizontal rod !84which is received in guides I86 for reciprocatory movement. The rod I84carries an abutment I88 between which and one of the guides I at, aspring I90 is interposed to bias the rod towards the right as viewed inFig. 3. At the left end of the rod I84, a resilient finger :92 issuitably secured for reception in one of the openings I94 formed in anoscillatory member I96 pivotally mounted on a pin I98. A leaf spring 2%mounted on the frame 52 has its free end received in a notch 202diametrically opposed to the median portion of the notches I94. Disposedat an angle of 90 to the notch .202, the oscillatory member I96 carriesthe switch arm I58 which selectively contacts the poles of the switchI36.

Thus it will be clear that as the record carriage of the operativemachine approaches the end of its path, the corresponding actuating armI66 will be moved outwardly to rotate its vertical shaft 172, movementof which will be transmitted to the corresponding pin I82 carried by therod I84 which will move to the left as depicted in Fig. 3, so that theresilient finger I92 will enter the notch I84 which is opposed thereto,the lower notch being so disposed as illustrated in Fig. 3, whereuponthe oscillatory member I96 will be moved clockwise from the positiondepicted and as the leaf spring 209 travels over its center, the uppernotch I53 will be moved downwardly to receive the r-esiiient finger I92the next time the rod iii i is reciprocated. As the oscillatory member6% moves clockwise, it will move the switch arm its from its contactwith the pole as shown in 3, into contact with the other pole of theswitch I3fi. Thus, the machines will be consecutively energized by thisadaptor so that when. one of the machines has its record filled, theother machine begins its recording operation, giving an operator ampletime to remove the filled record and replace it by a blank ready toreceive intelligence when next called upon by the automatic arrangementjust described,

By loosening the set screws I'M, the actuating members Hit can beadjusted with respect to their shafts I12 to produce any desired degreeof overlap or to accommodate records of various sizes. It will beunderstood of course, that the sound recording machines will be properlyenergized from suitable current sources to effect the necessary driveand to render the amplifiers and other components of the machinesoperative, just as is the case where the machines illustrated herein areused independently of one another.

When a completely used record has been removed from a machine andreplaced by a blank, the carriage of that machine will be shifted to theright as view-ed in Fig. 1, followed by the actuating arms I66 under theforce of the spring I90.

Whereas this invention has been depicted in connection with a particulartype of sound recording machine, it Will be clear to those skilled inthe art that it is applicable to other types of machines already knownin the trade and accordingly, the invention should not be restricted touse in conjunction with any particular make of machine or to anyspecific details of construction beyond the scope of the appendedclaims.

I claim:

1. For combination with a plurality of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having means forinitiating a recording operation and each having a relatively movablerecording head member and record support member; an adaptor comprising aframe separably engageable with a surface of each of said machines,positioning means carried by said frame engageable with said machinesfor mutually locating said adaptor and machines, clamping meansadjustably carried by said frame for separably securing said frame andmachines together as a unit, actuating elements movably carried by saidframe for interposition in the paths of movement of said members,selecting means carried by said frame for sequentially activating therecording initiating means of said machines, and operating meansinterconnecting said actuating elements and selecting means.

2. For combination with a plurality of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having means forinitiating a recording operation and each having a recording head memberand a relatively movable record support member; an adaptor comprising aframe separably engageable with a surface of each of said machines,positioning means carried by said frame engageable with said machinesfor mutually locating said adaptor and machines, clamping meansadjustably carried by said frame for separably securing said frame andmachines together as a unit, actuating elements pivotally carried bysaid frame for interposition in the paths of movement of said recordsupport members, selecting means carried by said frame for sequentiallyactivating th recording initiating means of said machines, and operatingmeans mechanically interconnecting said actuating elements and selectingmeans.

3. For combination with a plurality of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having electricalmeans for initiating a recording operation and each having a relativelymovable recording head member and record support member; an adaptorcomp-rising a frame separably engageable with a surface of each of saidmachines, positioning means carried by said frame engageable with saidmachines for mutually locating said adaptor and machines, clamping meansadjustably carried by said frame for separably securing said frame andmachines together as a unit, actuating elements movably carried by saidframe for interposition in the paths of movement of said members,electrical switching means carried by said frame for sequentiallyactivating the recording initiating means of said machines, conductorscarried by said frame for connecting said switching means and recordinginitiating means, and operating means interconnecting said actuatingelements and selecting means.

4. For combination with a plurality of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a record driving motor and each having arelatively movable recording head memher and record support member; anadaptor comprising a frame separably engageable with a surface of eachof said machines, positioning means carried by said frame engageablewith said machines for mutually locating said adaptor and machines,clamping means adjustably carried by said frame for separably securingsaid frame and machines together as a unit, actuating elements movablycarried by said frame for interposition in the paths of movement of saidmembers, selecting means carried by said frame for sequentiallyactivating said record driving motors, and operating meansinterconnecting said actuating elements and selecting means.

5. For combination with a plurality of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having a startingswitch and each having a relatively movable stylus member and recordcarriage member; an adaptor comprising a frame separably engageable witha surface of each of said machines, positioning means carried by saidframe engageable with said machines for mutually locating said adaptorand machines, clamping means adjustably carried by said frame forseparably securing said frame and machines together as a unit, actuatingarms pivotally carried by said frame for interposition in the paths ofmovement of said mem bers, a selecting switch carried by said frame forsequentially energizing the starting switches of said machines, and amechanical movement interconnecting said actuating elements andselecting switch.

6. For combination with a plurality of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a record driving motor and inputterminals and each having a relatively movable recording head member andrecord support member; an adaptor comprising a frame separablyengageable with a surface of each of said machines, positioning meanscarried by said frame engageable with said machines for mutuallyloeating said adaptor and machines, clamping means adjustably carried bysaid frame for separably securing said frame and machines together as aunit, actuating elements inovably carried by said frame forinterposition in the paths of movement of said members, selecting meanscarried by said frame for sequentially activating said driving motors,conductors carried by said frame for connection with said inputterminals, and operating means interconnecting said actuating elementsand selecting means.

7. For combination with a plurality of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having a switch forinitiating a recording operation and each having a recording head memberand record support member relatively movable through a predeterminedpath; an adaptor comprising a frame separably engageable with a surfaceof each of said machines, positioning means carried by said frameengageable with said machines for mutually locating said adaptor andmachines, clamping means adjustably carried by said frame for separablysecuring said frame and machines together as a unit, actuating elementsmovably carried by said frame for interposition in the terminal portionsof the paths of movement of said members, a selecting switch carried bysaid frame for sequentially activating the recording initiating switchesof said machines, and operating means transmitting movement of saidactuating elements to said selecting switch.

8. For combination with a pair of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having means forinitiating a recording operation and each having a relatively movablerecording head member and record support member; an adaptor comprising aframe separably engageable with a surface of each of said machines,positioning means carried by said frame engageable with said machinesfor mutually locating said adaptor and machines, clamping meansadjustably carried by said frame for separably securing said frame andmachines together as a unit, actuating elements movably carried by saidframe for interposition in the paths of movement of said members, aselecting switch having two poles carried by said frame for alternatelyactivating the recording initiating means of said machines, andoperating means interconnecting said actuating elements and selectingswitch.

9. For combination with a pair of independent self contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having means forinitiating a recording operation and each having a relatively movablerecording head member and record support member; an adaptor comprising aframe separably engageable with a surface of each of said machines,positioning means carried by said frame engageable with said machinesfor mutually locating said adaptor and machines, clamping meansadjustably carried by said frame for separably securing said frame andmachines together as a unit, actuating elements movably carried by saidframe for interposition in the paths of movement of said members, meansfor adjusting the strokes of said actuating elements, selecting meanscarried by said frame for alternately activating the recordinginitiating means of said machines, and operating means transmitingterminal movements of said actuating elements to said selecting means.

10. For combination with a plurality of independent seif contained soundrecording machines each having a driving motor, each having means forinitiating a recording operation and each having a relatively movablerecording head member and record support member; an adaptor comprising aframe, clamping means ca ried by said frame engageable with saidmachines for mutually locating said adaptor and machines and securingthem together as a unit, a carrying handle secured to said frame fortransporting such unit, actuating elements movably carried by said framefor interposition in the paths of movement of said members, selectingmeans carried by said frame for sequentially activating the recordinginitiating means of said mac ines, and operating means interconnectingsaid actuating elements and selecting means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,361,717 Grey Dec, 7, 1920 1,783,498 Dyer Dec. 2, 19301,798,521 Bush Mar. 31, 1931 2,026,398 Norton et al Dec. 31, 19352,146,425 Dunning Feb. 7, 1939 2,353,320 Sinclaire July 11, 19442,558,505 Andres June 26, 1951 2,562,470 Marnell July 31, 1951

